Rope-climbing device.



L. F. COOPER.

ROPE CLIMBING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8, 1913.

:fiv wiir Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Elmo/Mom Linn/F flamer- THE NORRIS FETERSCO.FHOTOLITHO.,WA5HINO1ON. D. cv

UNITED s rarrns PATENT orrron.

mm FENIMORE ooornn, or ALBANY, new YORK.

ROPE-CLIMBING DEVICE.

The invention comprehends, among other features, the provision of a device which is adapted for sliding engagement with the rope or cable and which, by the weight of the person, can be so arranged relatively to the rope or cable as to be frictionally held in.

a locked position thereon and whereby, when the weight of the person on the device is removed therefrom, the device can be raised or lowered on the rope.

Inthe further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing the same loosely arranged on the rope; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the device when the same is locked on the rope; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1, therope being shown in cross section; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line H in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the views, I provide a body 10 terminating at one end in a centrally arranged slot 11 through which is adapted to loosely pass a rope 12, the other end of the body 10 having a lateral foot rest 13 rigidly secured thereto by a suit able angle brace 14:, with the inner face of the foot rest preferably covered by a nonslipping member 15 such as a sheet'of serrated rubber or the like. Mounted to swing on the body 10 to extend across the slot 11 is a locking member 16 in the nature of a bar which has its free ends adapted to abut against a locking pin 17. which can be received in one of a series of holes 18 formed in the bodylO, the said locking pin 17 being preferably carried on a chain 19 secured to the body 10 by a bolt or screw 20, in order Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed. October 8, 1913. Serial No. 794,140.

to prevent accidental loss of the locking pin 17.

Now referring to Fig.1 it will be ap-' parent that in the use ofthe device the same is first arranged with respect to the rope 12 so that the rope 12 will lie in the slot 11 of the body, after which the locking member 16 is swung to extend transversely to the slot, with its inner edge loosely engaging the rope 12, the locking member being held in this position by the locking pin 17, arranged in one of the holes 18 as mentioned, it being understood that a number of holes are provided on the body to receive the locking pin in order that the device can accommodate ropes of different diameters and thicknesses. The person who is to climb the rope now grasps the rope above the body 10 and by placing his foot beneath the body can readily raise the same on the rope, after which the said person places his other foot upon the non-slipping member 15 of the foot rest 13 and pressing downwardly thereon swings the body 10 downwardly into a position substantially parallel to the rope, thus causing the locking member 16 to securely grip the rope at the point where the rope passes through the slot and thus ofiset a portion of the rope at this point to rigidly hold the body 10 upon the rope at the place to which it has been raised by the operator. The operator now reaches farther up the rope and again pulls himself upwardly by his own strength, while, at the same time, with one of his feet arranged upon the body, he also advances the same upwardly, first, however, swinging the body back to a horizontal position relatively to the rope and as shown in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that in this manner the operator can advance the body 10 on the rope to the position desired and at anytime he should become tired can readily lock the body on the rope and place his entire weight thereon in order to insure the rigid holding of the body on the rope so that he can rest before climbing farther up the ro e.

y device is very adaptable for use as a means for climbing up a rope and also as a supporting means for comfortably supportstantially the same manner as the same is advanced up'the rope except that in this instance the operator slides 'down the rope to the desired distance and then raising the body to a horizontal position, permits it to also slide down a certain distance, after which the operator rests himself upon the body in order that he may lower his hands on the rope and then proceed to descend in the manner mentioned heretofore carrying the body 10 with him.

the rope therein, means for securing the locking member in bridging position, and a lateral foot rest projecting from one end of the body.

2. In a rope climbing device, the combination with a body provided with a longitudi- LINN FENIMORE COQP-ER.

Witnesses: i

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, B. G. JoHNsoN.

my natu e Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Its/cents,

Washington, D. C. r 

